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Baccarat (pronounced with a silent “t”) is an easy card game of chance. There are only 3 outcomes to each game. Either the Player wins, the Banker wins or it's a Tie. As you can place a wager on the outcome being a tie, a bet on “Tie” will win if that is the result. Likewise, you can bet “Player” or “Banker”.

This card game is Italian in origin, and found it's way into France in the late 15th century. It has been compared to the American Wild West game of Faro, thought to have been played by Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. Before this, Basset was another similar game, eventually banned in France just prior to the 18th century following it's part in the financial ruination of many of that country's noblemen.

The crucial (and most played) variations of the game are “Chemin-de-Fer”, “Banque” and ‘Punto Banco” (otherwise known as N. American). There is no expertise required in Punto Banco, it's simply a game of luck, the cards themselves totally determining the player's actions. The other variations require decisions to be made by the player, and as such involve some elements of skill.

 

Hand Values

The numbered cards are all valued at face. That is to say, a three of hearts is worth 3. Ten, J, Q and K are all worth no points, and an Ace is valued at 1 point. The points in a hand are added up. If you have a 4 and a 5 your points score is 9. However, if you have more than 10, the first digit is removed. For example, you have a 6 and a 7 (13) your score is 3. A points total of 10 becomes a score of zero, the lowest score, and called baccarat. The best score possible is 9.

 

Punto Banco

In this version, the casino plays the role of banker at all times. This is common to North America, Canada, Sweden and Macau. Wagers can be placed on “Player” or “Banker”, and cards are dealt to both. They are then turned over by the dealer who announces the totals. The rules are then used to determine if up to one more card each can be added to either hand. The hand with the higher number of points is the winner. Play follows the following guidelines after the first two cards have been revealed:

 

Player with 0 to 5 must receive one card

Player with 6 or 7 receives no more card

Player with 8 or 9 (a “natural”) receives no more card

 

How the Banker continues is dependant upon his cards, if the Player received an extra card, and if so, the card the player received.

 

Player stood: Banker draws with 0 to 5

Player stood: Banker receives no more cards with 6 or 7

Player draws 2 or 3: Banker must draw with 0 to 4. Banker does not draw with 5 to 7

Player draws 4 or 5: Banker must draw with 0 to 5. Banker does not draw with 6 or 7

Player draws 6 or 7: Banker must draw with 0 to 6. Banker does not draw with 7

Player draws 8: Banker must draw with 0 to 2. Banker does not draw with 3 to 7

Player draws 9,10,J,Q,K,A: Banker must draw with 0 to 3. Banker does not draw with 4 to 7

 

The croupier announces which hand wins, Player or Banker. The payoff is normally evens (1:1)

In some gambling establishments, they will both be paid at evens, the only exception being when the hand is won by the banker holding 6 points. In this case, his winnings (or rather, those who have bet on ”Banker”) will be half of the initial wager.

If both hands have the same points value the result is a tie. The usual announcement is “Egalite. Tie bet wins”. Bets placed to back a tied result will receive their payoff at 8/1, and any other wagers will carry forward to the next deal.

Traditionally, the game of punto banco takes place at an oval layout with a croupier who controls the proceedings, and 2 dealers there to receive and payout wagers. Multiple card decks are employed, dealt from a “shoe”, and they are not usually touched by any of the players. The shoe moves from player to player, each in turn acting as banker. Whoever places the largest wager on the “player” to win will receive the player's hand, although this is just symbolic.

Due to the traditionally high sums involved in wagers, North American casinos often reserve separate baccarat rooms adjacent to the main gambling area. Wealthy gamblers love the game, with $10,000 per hand often being bet. The casino's edge in Punto Banco is 1.24 percent when betting on the player, 1.06 percent for a “banker” bet and 14.44 percent when wagering on a “tie”.

Millions can be won or lost in a single evenings play due to the number of affluent participants playing for large sums.

“Mini Baccarat” is a much faster form of the game, and is intended to make it playable by the masses. There is only one dealer, the bets are smaller and the game is somewhat quicker. Some casinos only play this style and not the larger game.

 

Chemin de Fer

This version uses 6 identical decks mixed together by a croupier. The deck is passed round the table for any player to shuffle, then the croupier performs a final shuffle. The first player then cuts the cards. A small amount of cards are cut from the top and handed to the last player who becomes the temporary “banker”.

He makes his bet, followed by the remaining players. In turn, any player may declare “Banco” which means they wish to play in opposition to the total bankers bet. If no player says this, each player in turn simply places his bet. If the total bet by all the players is less than the bet placed by the banker, onlookers may add wagers . If it is greater than the banker's bet, the players have an option to change their bets.

The banker will then deal two cards each for himself and the players. Both will look at their hands If either has a total of 8 or 9 the hands are turned over, and either Punto (the “punter” or “player”) or Banco (the “banker” or house) wins their respective bets, and the process begins again. The banker will remain until the players win, thereupon the next player becomes banker.

If no-one has an 8 or 9 an extra card is presented. If the player has 10, 20, 1,2,3,or 4 he will accept the card. If he has 6 or 7 he should not take a card. Making a mistake in either of these situations is frowned upon by the table, and in some clubs the guilty party is made to make good any lost bets resulting from such a faux-pas.

If he has a total of 5 points, the choice belongs to the player alone and this is unquestionable.

Next, the banker must play his hand somewhat according to the guidelines in place, although he is still free to make certain choices depending upon the players game he has just witnessed. For example, if there was any hesitation in the players decision, the banker knows he probably held a 5. Since the next players card (if he drew) is exposed, the banker has a good indication of the score to beat. The banker then reveals his cards and any payouts are made. In the case of a tie, the bets stay put for the next game.

Banker's accumulated wins are not withdrawn, and serve to swell the bank. If he wishes to leave, each player in turn may choose to engage the role, however, they must do so with the same amount in the bank as the previous banker. If this is too much and no player wishes to hazard such a large amount, the next player takes over and wagers what he deems suitable. If a “banker” loses and the bank passes to another player, he may return on the next hand and regain the bankers role.

When they have been used, the croupier will offer fresh cards. There must always be a minimum of 7 cards left in the “live” deck.

 

Banque

Whereas in the version just described, the “banker” only remains in the role as long as he is winning, when playing “Banque” the banker will remain in his position until the shuffled pack of 3 or 4 decks have been dealt, or he has no money remaining.

Whichever player offers the biggest bank in financial terms becomes the banker. In some establishments, players add their names to a list and submit a starting “bank” of whatever figure they deem suitable.

The banker will sit at the middle of the table edge, surrounded by up to 10 players. Onlookers can join in the betting if the bank value is not equaled by the player's betting total.

Shuffling and cutting procedures are similar to those of Chemin de Fer. The banker then deals 6 cards. Two to the group of players on his left, two to those on his right and two to himself.

Thus there are two separate groups of players, and the banker. The hands are played out in the same manner as that used in the game of Chemin de Fer.

Any player may decide to become the banker, and it's possible for a player from each side of the table to each have a half share in the bank.

As with Chemin de Fer, a retiring banker must be replaced with a banker offering an identical value bank, else it becomes offered around the table again.

If the players wager more than the amount of the bank, the croupier will pay out each player from whatever amount remains in the banker's funds.

 

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